Leprosy and primary health care

Abstract

There are very few projects, anywhere in the world, who can submit a written account to show how primary health care (PHC) in the World Health Organization sense of the term is working in association with leprosy or vice versa. It is important to note that some confusion has arisen between PHC and 'integration' - the latter term usually indicates that a 'vertical' control programme should be phased out, in favour of the 'horizontal' insertion of leprosy, into the general health services. It is the author's view that such a step should not generally be taken in the case of leprosy, until the most careful plans have been made and implemented to educate all members of the health service who will encounter and treat leprosy patients. With extremely few exceptions, this process will cover a period of years.